The Major League Baseball season is getting off to its earliest ever start Thursday, excluding international games. The March 29 opening day is one day earlier than the previous record and is partly because of a new collective bargaining agreement that gives players an extra three to four days off.

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That's not all that makes it an interesting opening day, however. Here are some more things to know as the 162-game season begins:

Twenty-six teams are expected to play their first game Thursday. It would have been all 30, but Cincinnati and Detroit's home openers were pre-emptively postponed to Friday because of weather. It was supposed to be the first time every team opened on the same day since 1968, when there were just 20 teams in the majors. But that day half a century ago was dictated by far different circumstances, with the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. leading MLB teams to delay their openers out of respect for the slain civil rights icon.

Eight of Thursday's 15 matchups are divisional games. There is one interleague game as the Detroit Tigers host the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The first game of the year will be in South Florida, where the Chicago Cubs are set to meet the Miami Marlins at 12:30 Eastern time. The latest openers are a pair of matchups in Seattle and Arizona, with each beginning of 10:10 Eastern time.

Looking for reigning National League MVP Giancarlo Stanton? Don't go to Miami. The slugger is with the New York Yankees now and among the most prominent players who will be making their debut with new teams on Thursday. More stars in new uniforms include Jake Arrieta (Phillies), J.D. Martinez (Red Sox), Lorenzo Cain (Brewers), Christian Yelich (Brewers), Evan Longoria (Giants) and Andrew McCutchen (Giants).

Six managers are making their debut with their respective teams, and only one, Detroit's Ron Gardenhire, has previous big league managing experience. The new managers: Mickey Callway (Mets), Dave Martinez (Nationals), Gabe Kapler (Phillies), Alex Cora (Red Sox) and Aaron Boone (Yankees).

Ballparks should be a little safer. The MLB announced before spring training that all stadiums will have protective netting that extends past both dugouts in time for opening day.